New York State Ranks Highest in Nation in Per Pupil Spending

• For the 2017-18 school year,* New York State was the highest among the states in per pupil disbursements for current public elementary and secondary education at $24,040, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. New York’s per-pupil figure rose 4.1 percent from the previous year. Differences in educational spending among states may reflect variations in regional costs, among other factors.

Local Resources Represent the Largest Source of Funding

• In 2018-19, support for public elementary and secondary schools in New York came from the following sources:
  • Local, $42.7 billion;
  • State, $29.5 billion, including the School Tax Relief Program (STAR) of $2.4 billion; and
  • Federal, $2.7 billion.
• In school budgets proposed for the 2020-21 school year, property tax levy increases averaged 2.2 percent, compared to a 2.4 percent increase the previous year.

* Most recent available year.